Question about the gaps between prime numbers

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationships between consecutive prime numbers, specifically exploring whether there exist primes such that the next prime number is greater than the square of the current prime or greater than twice the current prime. Participants are examining these relationships in the context of known mathematical conjectures and theorems.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire whether there exists a prime number \( p_n \) such that \( p_{n+1} > p_n^2 \) and seek proof of the non-existence of such primes.
  • Others express a similar inquiry regarding the relationship \( p_{n+1} > 2p_n \), suggesting that this might contradict Bertrand's Postulate.
  • Participants reference Bertrand's Postulate as a means to address the second part of the inquiry regarding \( p_{n+1} > 2p_n \).
  • Firoozbakht's conjecture is mentioned as being related to the first part of the question but not identical to the condition \( p_{n+1} > p_n^2 \).
  • There are discussions about the potential for proving or disproving these relationships based on other mathematical postulates.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that Bertrand's Postulate is relevant to the discussion, particularly regarding the relationship \( p_{n+1} > 2p_n \). However, there is no consensus on the existence or non-existence of primes satisfying \( p_{n+1} > p_n^2 \), and the discussion remains unresolved regarding this aspect.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various conjectures and theorems, indicating that the discussion is dependent on these mathematical frameworks, which may not fully resolve the questions posed. The implications of these relationships are not definitively established.

DuckAmuck
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Is there any prime number pn, such that it has a relationship with the next prime number pn+1
p_{n+1} > p_{n}^2
If not, is there any proof saying a prime like this does not exist?

I have the exact same question about this relation:
p_{n+1} > 2p_{n}
 
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DuckAmuck said:
Is there any prime number pn, such that it has a relationship with the next prime number pn+1
p_{n+1} > p_{n}^2
If not, is there any proof saying a prime like this does not exist?

I have the exact same question about this relation:
p_{n+1} > 2p_{n}
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_gap

There is also a proof for arbitrary gaps, but see the section "upper bounds".
 
Interesting.Bertrand's Postulate answers the second part of my question. :)

I see Firoozbakht's conjecture, which is similar to my first part, but it's not quite the same thing as
p_{n+1} > p_{n}^2

I wonder if this can be proved or disproved from other postulates...
 
DuckAmuck said:
Interesting.Bertrand's Postulate answers the second part of my question. :)

I see Firoozbakht's conjecture, which is similar to my first part, but it's not quite the same thing as
p_{n+1} > p_{n}^2

I wonder if this can be proved or disproved from other postulates...

This also follows very easily from Bertrand's postulate.
 
DuckAmuck said:
but it's not quite the same thing as
p_{n+1} > p_{n}^2

I wonder if this can be proved or disproved from other postulates...

Compare ##2p_n## to ##p^2_n## .
 
micromass said:
This also follows very easily from Bertrand's postulate.

Yeah it does. Wow. I'm dumb. :p
 

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